Automatic mesh reshaping of an anatomical map to expose internal points of interest

Abstract

A method includes receiving or generating a volume map of at least a portion of a cavity of an organ of a body including a plurality of mapped locations, and a point cloud of locations in the cavity marked for treatment. The volume map is updated by removing a portion of the mapped locations, so that the locations marked for treatment fall on a surface of the volume map. Using the updated volume map, a map of at least a portion of the cavity is generated, the map including the locations marked for treatment. The map is displayed to user.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for exposing hidden landmarks of locations for treatment in an anatomical map, comprising:
 receiving or generating a volume map of at least a portion of a cavity of an organ of a body comprising a plurality of mapped locations, and a point cloud of locations in the cavity marked for treatment; 
 updating the volume map by removing a portion of the mapped locations, so that the locations marked for treatment fall on a surface of the volume map, wherein removing the portion of the mapped locations comprises projecting the locations marked for treatment to respective locations on the surface of the volume map, and removing the portion of the volume map that comprises a surface connecting the locations marked for treatment with the projected locations; 
 using the updated volume map, generating a map of at least a portion of the cavity, comprising the locations marked for treatment; and 
 displaying the map to a user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing the portion of the mapped locations comprises identifying one or more of the locations marked for treatment that fall in an interior of the volume map, and removing the portion so that the identified locations marked for treatment fall on the surface of the volume map. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein identifying a location marked for treatment that falls in the interior of the volume map comprises determining that a vector, from the location marked for treatment to a respective projected location on the surface, is opposite to an outward-pointing normal to the surface at the projected location. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the locations marked for treatment are locations on a cardiac wall tissue, and are marked for ablation. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein generating the map comprises generating an electroanatomical (EA) map of at least a portion of the wall tissue. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing the surface connecting the locations marked for treatment with the projected locations comprises removing a surface defined as a surface between a first curve generated by interconnecting the locations marked for treatment, and a second curve generated by interconnecting the projected locations. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein removing the portion of the volume map comprises defining, between each location marked for treatment and a respective projected location on the surface, a respective distance embedded in the surface, and defining the removed portion based on the distance. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein defining the removed portion of volume comprises defining a sphere having a diameter corresponding to the distance. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein displaying the map to the user comprises presenting one or more icons at the locations marked for treatment. 
     
     
       10. A system for exposing hidden landmarks of locations for treatment in an anatomical map, comprising:
 a memory, which is configured to store a plurality of mapped locations acquired in a cavity of an organ of a body, and a point cloud of locations in the cavity marked for treatment; and 
 a processor, which is configured to:
 receive or generate a volume map of at least a portion of the cavity comprising the plurality of mapped locations; 
 update the volume map by removing a portion of the mapped locations, so that the locations marked for treatment fall on a surface of the volume map; 
 using the updated volume map, generate a map of at least a portion of the cavity, comprising the locations marked for treatment; and 
 display the map to a user, 
 wherein the processor is configured to project the locations marked for treatment to respective locations on the surface of the volume map, and to remove the portion of the volume map that comprises a surface connecting the locations marked for treatment with the projected locations. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to identify one or more of the locations marked for treatment that fall in an interior of the volume map, and to remove the portion so that the identified locations marked for treatment fall on the surface of the volume map. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to identify a location marked for treatment that falls in the interior of the volume map by determining that a vector, from the location marked for treatment to a respective projected location on the surface, is opposite to an outward-pointing normal to the surface at the projected location. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the locations marked for treatment are locations on a cardiac wall tissue, and are marked for ablation. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the map by generating an electroanatomical (EA) map of at least a portion of the cardiac wall tissue. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to remove the surface connecting the locations marked for treatment with the projected locations by removing a surface defined as a surface between a first curve generated by interconnecting the locations marked for treatment, and a second curve generated by interconnecting the projected locations. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to remove the portion of the volume by defining, between each location marked for treatment and a respective projected location on the surface, a respective distance embedded in the surface, and defining the removed portion based on the distance. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to define the removed portion of volume map by defining a sphere having a diameter corresponding to the distance. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to display the map to the user by presenting one or more icons at the locations marked for treatment.